Bemco Signs Up for Riyadh PP9 Fast-Track Job

The local Arabian Bemco Contracting signed on 9 May the SR 833 million ($222 million) contract to add 480 MW of power at Riyadh’s PP9 station

by the end of September. Bids for another major expansion of PP9, involving the installation of 1,200 MW of new capacity, are due to be submitted to Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) by 31 May.

The Bemco block E engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract calls for the installation of eight 60-MW Frame 7 gas turbines. Under the ultra fast-track program, full project completion is scheduled for 21 September, with the first two turbines due to come on stream by mid-July.

On the second, larger expansion scheme out to bid at PP9, four groups are now expected to bid by the late May deadline. They are: Bemco, with Germany’s Siemens; the local National Contracting Company (NCC); France’s Alstom; and the US’ General Electric (GE). Under the estimated $700 million project, the successful bidder will add 1,200 MW of generating capacity to the existing 1,296 MW produced by four combined cycle blocks, each comprising four gas turbines and one steam turbine.

Bids were also due to be submitted in late May for another SEC power project at Wadi al-Dawasir, east of Bisha. However, SEC has now postponed the deadline although it has not informed bidders of the new submission date. The contract calls for the supply and installation of two Frame 6 gas turbines.